City Commission Meeting - 10/07/2024

The meeting began with an amendment to the October 7 agenda, where the Commission voted to remove certain items from the consent agenda and table them for further discussion following a strategic planning meeting 5:57. The Commission also approved the minutes from the September 16 meeting and the October 7 bills listing 13:50, 27:45.

Significant legislative discussion focused on amending Chapter 9 of the city ordinances to convert certain housing inspections from criminal offenses to civil infractions 29:33. The rationale provided by City Manager Mike Womack and staff was that civil infractions allow for easier prosecution and more effective court-ordered remedies, such as requiring property owners to fix violations within a specific timeframe 31:19, 34:35.

The meeting also addressed community infrastructure. The Commission approved the purchase of new fitness equipment for the community center 28:50 and a proposal from Whitewater to design and build a new water slide and staircase tower 38:52. A contentious discussion took place regarding a contract with Rogue Professional Services for pump track design assistance 40:19. While the motion passed, Commissioners expressed concerns regarding the "lighting of money on fire" due to previously wasted engineering funds and the lack of transparent communication regarding site changes and funding sources 47:24, 57:22.

Finally, City Manager Womack presented concerns regarding the regulation of exotic pet stores within the city, suggesting the need for a new ordinance to ensure animal welfare and clear oversight 1:06:02.

• Agenda Management: Removal and tabling of items for future strategic planning sessions 5:57.
• Housing Ordinance Amendments: Transitioning housing enforcement from criminal to civil infractions 29:33.
• Community Center Upgrades: Purchase of fitness equipment and approval of a new water slide design 28:28, 38:30.
• Pump Track Development: Discussion on engineering contracts, site relocation, and the necessity of a subcommittee for better communication 40:19, 1:00:15.
• Exotic Pet Regulation: Proposals for new city ordinances regarding the licensing and care of exotic animals 1:06:02.

• Jeramy Hing: Mayor [Project Context].
• Mike Womack: City Manager [Project Context].
• Melissa Petrie: Commissioner and Mayor Pro-Tem [Project Context].
• Joshua C. Atwood: Commissioner [Project Context].
• Stefan Brady: Commissioner [Project Context].
• Linda Glisman: Commissioner [Project/Transcript].
• Commissioner Swindell: Commissioner [Transcript].
• An Shan: Resident/Public Commenter [Transcript].
• Christopher Her: Representative for the DDA [Transcript].
• Pete McCre: Resident/Public Commenter [Transcript].
• Kelly: Local Skateboarder/Public Commenter [Transcript].

• Agenda Approval: The Commission approved the October 7 agenda, specifically removing items C2, C3, and C4 from the consent agenda 13:08.
• Ordinance Adoption: The Commission adopted an amendment to Chapter 9 (Housing) regarding administration and penalties 37:04.
• Equipment Purchase: Approved the purchase of eight treadmills and two recumbent ellipticals for $4,260 28:50.
• Water Slide Contract: Approved Whitewater's proposal for a new water slide and staircase tower, not to exceed $26,990 38:52.
• Pump Track Engineering: Approved a contract amendment with Rogue Professional Services for $4,400 for design assistance 40:19.
• Public Comment: Residents raised concerns regarding transparency in city communications 15:38, the results of a DDA pulse poll 18:25, and the quality of the YouTube live stream 26:22.

• September 16, 2024: Date of the previously held regular meeting 13:50.
• October 7, 2024: Date of the current meeting 13:08.
• November/December 2024: Expected timeframe for the strategic planning meeting 6:18.

• City of Lapeer: Jurisdiction of the meeting [Project Context].
• Community Center: Location for new fitness equipment and water slide projects 28:28, 38:30.
• Pump Track Site: Discussion regarding a location shift to the area south of the railroad tracks 50:37.

• Housing Ordinance Change: To make enforcement more cost-effective and allow judges to impose compliance orders (e.g., "fix it by this date") that are not available with criminal charges 31:19, 34:35.
• Pump Track Site Change: To leverage existing parking benefits and avoid the high cost of building new parking lots 55:35.
• Exotic Pet Ordinance: To address citizen concerns regarding the care of animals in local pet stores and clarify regulatory responsibility between the city and state 1:06:02.

• Approval of October 7 Agenda: Approved with removal of C2 and C3/C4 and addition of G6 13:08.
• Approval of September 16 Minutes: Motion by [unnamed], Second by Brady. Passed 13:50.
• October 7 Bill Listing ($620,766.65): Approved. Roll call: Commissioner Atwood (Yes), Commissioner Brady (Yes), Commissioner Glisman (Yes), Commissioner Petrie (Yes), Commissioner Swindell (Yes) 28:06.
• Community Center Equipment Purchase ($4,260): Approved. Roll call: Commissioner Brady (Yes), Commissioner Glisman (Yes), Commissioner Petrie (Yes), Commissioner Swindell (Yes), Commissioner Atwood (Yes) 29:12.
• Water Slide Design Proposal (not to exceed $26,990): Approved. Roll call: Commissioner Brady (Yes), Commissioner Glisman (Yes), Commissioner Petrie (Yes), Commissioner Swindell (Yes), Commissioner Atwood (Yes) 39:58.
• Pump Track Engineering Contract ($4,400): Approved. Roll call: Commissioner Petrie (Yes), Commissioner Swindell (Yes), Commissioner Atwood (Yes), [unnamed] (Yes) 1:01:02.

• Transparency and Engineering Costs: Debate over why $9,800 was previously spent on engineering for a different site and why the current contract is $4,400 47:24, 48:09.
• Funding for Pump Track: Concerns regarding the $800,000 funding gap and the reliability of TIF/marijuana tax funds 41:03, 49:13.
• Subcommittee Formation: Suggestion to create a subcommittee to improve communication between the Commission and the Pump Track committee 1:00:15.

• Follow-up on Engineering Data: City Manager Womack to provide information regarding the previous $9,800 expenditure and the findings of that engineering work 1:02:48.
• TIF Information: Staff to supplement information regarding what the TIF board has allocated 1:03:29.
• Exotic Pet Ordinance: Staff to investigate and potentially draft an ordinance regarding the regulation of pet stores 1:07:28.

The sentiment among attendees was mixed. While there is strong support for community recreational improvements (pump track, water slide, fitness equipment), there is significant frustration regarding financial transparency, the perceived "wasting" of previously allocated funds, and the quality of the city's digital communication (YouTube stream) 26:22, 47:24, 57:22.

• An Shan (Resident): Challenged the City Manager and Mayor regarding statements made about potential violations of city ordinances 16:21.
• Commissioner Swindell: Expressed strong opposition to spending more on engineering when previous funds seemed "lit on fire" without clear results 47:24, 57:22.
• Christopher Her (DDA): Shared that 140 participants in the pulse poll requested more retail, dining, and event-based shopping in downtown Lapeer 18:47.

• Commissioner Petrie: Asked if the change from criminal to civil infractions would be effective if the primary issue is the cost of enforcement 30:38.
• Commissioner Atwood: Questioned the necessity of additional engineering spending when the project is still hundreds of thousands of dollars short of its total budget 41:03.
• Commissioner (unnamed): Asked how the city would determine if animals in exotic pet stores are being cared for properly under a new ordinance 1:07:49.